The quest of a 45 year old recreational runner who likes nothing better than a lazy night with a beer or glass of wine to become an Ironman

Time to reflect

by macukFeb 16th 2015

My training had been going well, I was upping the mileage on my runs, feeling stronger and was even enjoying my pool sessions. I had been sticking to my weekly plans and had great satisfaction crossing off each session after they had been completed. Then early on Jan 29th my wife had the call for us to attend her parents house immediately. It was with great sadness on arriving we found that my father-in-law had passed away suddenly.

It is at times like these that you realise what's important in life and just how much one person can make such a big hole in your world when they have gone. My wife has been really strong, putting on a brave face for her mother and other members of the family. I admire the way she has dealt with everything that comes with the sudden loss of a loved one and has been a rock for all members of our family.

My father-in-law Arthur was the type of guy that everybody loved. He had time for everyone and in the 26 years I've known him has never had a cross or bad word about anybody. He loved sport and seemed to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of everything from the Premier League to crown green bowling. He was very proud of my achievements in not only my work life but races and events I had taken part in. My wife would tell me how she had caught her dad boring people again and again with tales of my exploits and how he would constantly ask what I'd been up to lately.

It's hard to get motivated during a time like this, does it really matter if you don't do that 5 mile run or 3 hour bike ride, in the large scheme of things no, but Arthur wouldn't expect people to just give up either. I know how proud he had been when I ran in the London Marathon, watching intently on the TV in-case he caught a glimpse of me. He had asked so many questions about the Ironman events, trying to comprehend the distances involved and he never once discouraged me from taking part.

With this in mind I know I've now got a reason to be out there on the freezing dark mornings or in the pool, bored as I try and go lap after lap. I know Arthur would want me to stick at it, listening to my tales as my training progresses and I also know he would have been so proud to tell his friends of his son-in-law that had taken part in that Ironman thingy at the seaside.